For the latest information about active study groups,contact ARE headquarters at 757-428-3588 ext 7190 or the toll free # 877-428-2734 or you may email the department studygps@edgarcayce.org

MD ARE STUDY GROUP CONTACTS:

Bethesda:Carol Callahan – 301-229-7341Linda Dilima – 703-448-9631

Chesapeake Beach:Arlene Elam – 410-257-7971

Frederick:Gene Beall – 301-631-0828

Montgomery Village:Joan Gadek – 240-506-2796

Pylesville:Patti Hawse – 717-993-3999

Silver Spring:Lynn Koiner – 301-589-2074

DC ARE STUDY GROUP CONTACT:

Diana Berchiolliberch0344@aol.com202-558-6311

NORTHERN VIRGINIA ARE CONTACT:

Judy Brantingjbranting@aol.com703-765-6690

WEST VIRGINIA ARE CONTACTS:

John and Phyllis GriggsJGriggs250@aol.com304-592-3119

Spiritual
Growth Groups provide the opportunity for you to delve deep into the Edgar
Cayce material on enhancing your personal Spiritual growth. Since 1931,
thousands of people have discovered the tremendous benefits of studying
Spiritual principles with a group.We invite you to take this exciting
next step on your journey toward living your idea.

In 1931, Edgar Cayce began to give a series of
readings that outlined individual steps toward true spiritual growth. A
group of people working on understanding these concepts, practicing
them, and writing about their experiences worked hand-in-hand with
Edgar Cayce to put these concepts into lessons and published them as A Search for God, Books I and II.

Today, these books are used as the primary text for
study in hundreds of small groups around the world. Each group has it’s
own personality, of course, but for most groups, there are three
primary focuses:

Studying and discussing the material. Rather than just reading
through the text, group members discuss their understanding of the
information. Cayce insisted that everything one needs lies within self.
In this sense, each person becomes their own teacher, and a teacher to
others in the group as they show the results in their lives.

Choosing a portion of the text, or an idea from the text and
discussion, to “try-on” as an experiment until the next meeting.
Personal experiences are then discussed at the subsequent meeting. In
this way, the concepts from the readings are brought into practical
application. Cayce says this is where the soul growth occurs; not
simply by knowing, but through applying the principles.

Meditation and prayer. Through group meditation, members seek
greater attunement with the Universal Forces. Guidelines and
suggestions from the Cayce readings provide a safe framework for this
activity. Prayers for others follow the meditation time.

Sometime the material studied varies, with some groups
choosing to study complementary information for a time, or organizing
around a certain topic of interest from the Cayce readings. Regardless
of the resource material or topic, the focus on personal application
and meditation remain integral parts of the meeting.

Many groups meet in private homes, and the frequency
of meetings varies; weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Meetings generally
last for about 2 hours. There is no fee for participating, though many
groups collect free-will donations to help support the A.R.E. Spiritual
Growth Group program, their local A.R.E. region or center activity,
and/or local projects such as a community food bank.

Many people who have worked with the Search for God books in this way have found that these groups offer:

Support for personal spiritual growth

Clarification and feedback

Motivation to persevere

A safe environment in which to explore spiritual ideas

We hope you will consider becoming part of this group
activity, which has served to enrich the spiritual understanding of
literally thousands of people for the past 75 years.